Scotland head coach Vern Cotter insists their latest pair of foreign recruits will not let their adopted nation down.

Vern Cotter© Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Glasgow number eight Josh Strauss and Edinburgh prop WP Nel have both been named in the Scots' 46-man World Cup training camp - despite the fact neither South African is yet eligible to play.

Nel, born in the Northern Cape, is just days away from passing the residency criteria after three years in the capital, while Cape Towner Strauss - who became a Guinness Pro12 champion with Glasgow at the weekend - will qualify just under a week before Cotter's team kick-off their tournament against Japan on September 23.

The selection of non-native Scots has long proved a contentious issue for Scottish rugby but Cotter is not worried about the Tartan Springboks having split-loyalties before facing their homeland in their third Pool B clash on October 3. He said: "I am happy to see these two players pull on a jersey and play for Scotland because I think they want to and I think they deserve to.

"Just look at Josh for Glasgow at the weekend. He was outstanding. WP's children were born in Scotland. When you talk to these players they are very passionate about this being their country. This is where they live now. I think they will add value to the team. If it's going to make this team perform well, that's a good thing."

The performance of Glasgow as they became the nation's first ever club side to lift silverware - as they beat Munster to the Pro12 title in Belfast - has raised hopes things may be on the up in Scotland. Cotter seems to agree, having named 22 of Gregor Townsend's Scotstoun team in his pre-World Cup group.

"That experience will be important," he said. "Winning is important. We said (to) the guys after the Six Nations: 'Go back to your clubs and win something' - and they have largely done that. So there will be a lot of confidence in this group as we try to develop these young men before the World Cup.

"We know the bar will get raised much higher at international level, especially at a World Cup. But we will let the Glasgow players celebrate for a couple more weeks and when we come together we will look at what we want to achieve and strive towards that."